Privacy app Disconnect Mobile disappears from the Play Store for the second time

Privacy and security app Disconnect Mobile has been removed from the Google Play Store twice in a short period of time. The ad-tracker-blocking app is infringing the distribution agreement, according to Google, but privacy advocates say the removal is unjustified.

Disconnect Mobile is a privacy and security app for smartphone users, which, among other things, blocks unauthorized ad-trackers from third parties. Although the app does not present itself as an ad-blocker, it can filter out advertisements as a result. In Google’s developer distribution agreement, section 4.4 states that “interrupting and disrupting the devices, servers, networks or other property or services of third parties” is prohibited.

Disconnect Mobile was removed from the Play Store at the end of August for this reason. The American company published the email, which it said it had received from Google. If the app was adapted to the distribution agreement, it was allowed to be added to the Play Store again. The app returned to the Play Store on Monday after a two-week absence. Disconnect Mobile, however, quickly disappeared, Cnet writes, with Google giving the same reason.

Privacy organization Electronic Frontier Foundation suggested that Disconnect Mobile was removed because it violates Google’s business model. “By removing the app from the Play Store, Google is putting its users at risk and sending a message that it cares more about its revenue than its users’ security.” The Android app has reportedly been downloaded more than 20,000 times. Incidentally, Disconnect Mobile is still available in the App Store. Android users can still download the apk file from Disconnect’s site.